MADHURAKAVI AZHVAR

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MADHURAKAVI AZHVAR 
Madhurakavi AzhvAr was born in Chitirai month of the Tamizh Eswara year, under the chitthirai star (constellation) on a Friday in Thirukollur near AzhvAr Thirunagari also referred as tirukkurugoor. His avatAram is considered to be in the dwApara Yugam. He is considered to be the divine form (amsam) of Kumudha GaNA, a commander in the celestial army of Sri Vishwaksena. He is also considered to be the incarnation of Garuda the sacred vehicle of lord Vishnu. 
He became the disciple of nammAzhvAr, who was born much later. Similar to the rays of the sun, that arises before the appearance of the sun, he is said to have born before his AchArya NammAzhvAr who is referred to as the sun.
He was born in the Brahmin community and became proficient in vedic sastrAs. He was a devout Vishnu baktha. He wrote bakthi songs that captivated the minds of the readers. Hence he was called 
Inkaviyaar.
He was also known as Azhwaarukku Adiyaan.
He has composed ‘kaNNinum sisuthAmbu’ the 11 verses in praise of his AchAryan.


STORY OF MADHURAKAVI AZHVAR 
Having least interest in the samsAric life, AzhvAr set out on a pilgrimage to Divya kshEtram in the north of India. After visiting places like Mathura, kAsi, dwAraka etc,he reached Ayodhya. As he was engrossed in the beauty of the lord, he kept seeing a bright light that was visible only to his eyes. Understanding that it is a call for the purpose of his life, he started following the light that moved towards the south. This light brought him to a place known as Tirukkurugur in Tamil Nadu and suddenly disappeared. 
Entering the place, he started enquiring the people and found out, that a 16 year old boy was seated in meditation under a tamarind tree without eating or drinking anything, in the premises of AdipirAn or polindu nindra pirAn temple. On seeing him in a meditative state, AzhvAr was doubtful if he will open his eyes and see him. To find this out, AzhvAr threw a small stone near him. On hearing the sound, NammAzhvAr opened his eyes and smiled at MathuraKavi AzhvAr. Immediately to find out whether he will talk, AzhvAr put forth a question 
 "Settatin VayiRRil SiRiyadu PiRandAl
                                                                  Ettai tinRu engE KiDakkum?". 
Meaning- what does a Jeeva born in this Prapancham, that is made of achetanam “GatAsu” experience?

For this nammAzhvAr answered 
*“attai tinRu angE kiDakkum”*
Meaning-  Relishing the boghyams (pleasures) of the universe it will stay in the samsAram swirl. 

Upon hearing, Madhura Kavi AzhvAr made up his mind to have nammAzhvAr as his guru and prostrated before him. He learnt all the works of nammAzhvAr, compiled it and stayed subservient to his AchAryan. To reveal the importance of an AchAryan, inorder to attain moksham, he wrote 11 pAsurams called *”kanninum siruthAbu”*, praising his AchAryan. 
This probandham reveals that, AchArya sambandham is enough to take one to the ultimate goal of life, in comparison to the direct connection with the lord. AchAryA’s grace will lead and take us to attain mOksham. 
In addition to emphasising the importance of AchArya bakthi, this Prabandam ’kanninum sirutambu’, is considered to be the mantram that can bring nammAzhvAr right in front of our eyes (prathyaksham). Baghavan NATHAMUNI exercised this Prabandam 12 thousand times and was able to have the darshan of nammAzhvAr and retrieved all the 4000 songs much later .

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